President Kathleen Waldron

"At William Paterson University, we are committed to providing an education that is outstanding and affordable. We continue to be proud of our many accomplishments with regard to academic excellence and student success."

New Jersey Universities and Colleges Join Forces to Support LGBTQA Students Through Leadership Conference on November 1 at William Paterson University In Wayne

Janet Mock

--Trans activist and writer Janet Mock to give keynote address

Students, educators, and community leaders from around the tri-state area will gather at the 12th Annual LGBTQA College Leadership conference at William Paterson University in Wayne on Friday, November 1 to discuss various issues impacting the LGBTQA community. The conference will be held from 11:30 a.m. through 9 p.m. in the University Commons on campus.

Writer and activist Janet Mock will be the conference keynote speaker. Mock stepped onto the national stage in 2011 with a groundbreaking profile about her journey to womanhood in Marie Claire magazine. As a trans woman Mock speaks out about the struggles, triumphs and portrayals of girls and women like herself. Her memoir, Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, will be published in February 2014. Her address is scheduled for 12:45 to 2 p.m. in the University Commons Ballroom.

This year’s conference theme focuses on visibility within the LGBTQA community. Workshops and speakers will shed light on issues that are often forgotten, such as intimate partner violence and classism, as well as segments of the LGBTQA community that are almost completely unseen, such as transgender and homeless youth. The conference is designed to provide the next generation of LGBTQA leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to foster a fully inclusive movement that advocates for the entire LGBTQA community.

The conference is hosted by William Paterson University with the support of Montclair State University and Ramapo College.